Walter Durham, a longtime Gallatin businessman who was appointed state historian in 2002, wrote 24 books on aspects of Tennessee history.

Written by

Sarah Kingsbury
and Joey Garrison

Walter Thomas Durham, Tennessee's state historian for the past decade and author of 24 books on Tennessee history, who left a lasting mark especially in his hometown of Gallatin, died on Friday at the age of 88.

Mr. Durham, a longtime Gallatin businessman and a walking encyclopedia of Tennessee and Sumner County history, was appointed state historian in 2002 by then-Gov. Don Sundquist. He had already served as president of the Tennessee Historical Society, founding president of the Tennessee Heritage Alliance (renamed the Tennessee Preservation Trust) and chairman of the Tennessee ...